Should Virginians have the right to medical aid in dying, like our neighbors in DC have (as well as our fellow citizens of Oregon, Washington, and Vermont, among others)? We say YES. Because right now, our only option for a controlled exit is not a very pleasant one: voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). Here is one story about how that works.

Reading it through, and imagining ourselves in this situation, was difficult. It should not take multiple days of suffering to end one’s life when one is ready to do so. We don’t put our cherished companion animals through such torment. And to those worried about misuse, safeguards can be written into laws.

How can we make it happen? Start by writing to your state legislators. If you don’t know who they are, you can find out here. They all have email addresses. Tell them this is an issue important to you and your friends and you all vote regularly.